Thread Reader helps you read and share Twitter threads easily!
I'm @ThreadReaderApp a Twitter bot here to help you read threads more easily. To trigger me, you just have to reply to (or quote) any tweet of the thread you want to unroll and mention me with the "unroll" keyword and I'll send you a link back on Twitter 😀
— Thread Reader App (@threadreaderapp) November 25, 2017
X thread is series of posts by the same author connected with a line!
From any post in the thread, mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll
Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us easily!
Practice here first or read more on our help page!
Recent
Renewables funds like Greencoat UK Wind (UKW), Octopus Renewables (ORIT) & The Renewables Infrastructure Group (TRIG) market themselves as low-risk investments. But plunging share prices and wide discounts to NAV suggest management in denial. A thread (1/11) 
Labour govt changes: ROC indexation cut (RPI to CPI) & Carbon Price Support removal in 2028. Funds took NAV hits but downplayed them. New Wholesale CfDs offered as partial offset. These are minor vs. what could come from Reform & Tories. (2/11)
Bigger risks: Tories & Reform pledge to scrap Net Zero elements. Remove CPS + ETS (carbon taxes boosting wholesale prices), abolish ROC scheme early. This would slash revenues for ROC-dependent assets far more than current tweaks, further impacting NAV & share prices. (3/11)
@KintsuShiitake @DavidVorick @owocki We need AI that holds our presence as valuable. AI does this much better than many human groupings. But we also need more human groupings to get this. Employers. Governments.
Our Soul Bound Sovereignty may love this change, but we also need food on the table.
Conundrum!
🧵👇
Our Soul Bound Sovereignty may love this change, but we also need food on the table.
Conundrum!
🧵👇
@KintsuShiitake @DavidVorick @owocki Solving this conundrum will be critical.
There's opportunity in tech for sure, that offers the chance to become Soulbound and Sovereign.
And especially in finance, and crypto, with the presence of mycelial transactions that can scale towards at least sustainability.
🧵👇
There's opportunity in tech for sure, that offers the chance to become Soulbound and Sovereign.
And especially in finance, and crypto, with the presence of mycelial transactions that can scale towards at least sustainability.
🧵👇
@KintsuShiitake @DavidVorick @owocki This cultural shift needs leaders who walk the walk as well as talk the talk.
We may need to walk parallel pathways.
Community on the one hand, family sustainability on the other.
Only when people can regularly balance those two needs will others begin to see how it's done.
We may need to walk parallel pathways.
Community on the one hand, family sustainability on the other.
Only when people can regularly balance those two needs will others begin to see how it's done.
India makes more milk than any country on Earth. Italy has 400 cheeses. India has roughly zero aged ones. Ever wondered why?
What India does have: paneer (acid-set, fresh), chhena (softer, fresh), khoa (reduced milk solids), dahi, lassi, buttermilk, ghee. So, it’s either fresh acid coagulated, fat-preserved or liquid ferments. No aged solids.
Aged cheese exists because European peasants needed calories in winter. It’s a way to preserve a nutritionally complete food (milk) when plant sources of food are scarce. The idea is to concentrate nutrients 10x, reduce water, and store for months. India, on the other hand, had year-round milking and no winter to speak of
Every year, this has to be the one report I look forward to the most: the Democracy Perception Index, compiled by the Alliance of Democracies Foundation (in partnership with Nita Data).
In fact, my yearly thread on the report is apparently such a tradition that, this year, its lead researcher personally sent me the report with this message: "every year, I look forward to your thread about it!". That's how you start wondering whether you tweet too much 😅
Why do I like this report so much? A few reasons:
1) The Alliance of Democracies Foundation, the organization behind the report, cannot even remotely be suspected of being some sort of anti-West outlet: it was started by an ex-NATO Secretary General (Anders Fogh Rasmussen) and its stated purpose is "to unite world democracies"
2) It's surprisingly honest and the methodology is actually democratic. Unlike other reports on democracy the scoring isn't done by the report's authors (like the report by Freedom House or The Economist's "Democracy Index"). It simply asks people what they think and, when it comes to democracy, that's kind of the point 🤷♂️
3) I love the expression "perception is reality" because, like it or not, what people believe about their system is what determines its legitimacy. A democracy that nobody actually experiences as one can't credibly claim to be one. And conversely, a so-called "autocracy" that its people overwhelmingly believe is actually a democracy might... actually be a democracy.
Anyhow, this year's edition did not disappoint. The data is absolutely fascinating and frankly, a little terrifying. So here you go: my thread on the 2026 Democracy Perception Index 🧵
In fact, my yearly thread on the report is apparently such a tradition that, this year, its lead researcher personally sent me the report with this message: "every year, I look forward to your thread about it!". That's how you start wondering whether you tweet too much 😅
Why do I like this report so much? A few reasons:
1) The Alliance of Democracies Foundation, the organization behind the report, cannot even remotely be suspected of being some sort of anti-West outlet: it was started by an ex-NATO Secretary General (Anders Fogh Rasmussen) and its stated purpose is "to unite world democracies"
2) It's surprisingly honest and the methodology is actually democratic. Unlike other reports on democracy the scoring isn't done by the report's authors (like the report by Freedom House or The Economist's "Democracy Index"). It simply asks people what they think and, when it comes to democracy, that's kind of the point 🤷♂️
3) I love the expression "perception is reality" because, like it or not, what people believe about their system is what determines its legitimacy. A democracy that nobody actually experiences as one can't credibly claim to be one. And conversely, a so-called "autocracy" that its people overwhelmingly believe is actually a democracy might... actually be a democracy.
Anyhow, this year's edition did not disappoint. The data is absolutely fascinating and frankly, a little terrifying. So here you go: my thread on the 2026 Democracy Perception Index 🧵
Let's start with what's always the highlight of the report: the actual ranking of countries based on democracy perception by their own people.
Which, this year, as a French man, is utterly depressing: France is now, according to the French people themselves, one of the least democratic countries in the world, alongside countries like Kazakhstan, Yemen or Zimbabwe. It's insane but sadly unsurprising given the fact that Macron made a complete mockery of the results of the previous elections, and altogether only has utter contempt for his people.
Also fascinating, like every single year, is the fact that China is - according to the Chinese people themselves - one of the most democratic countries in the world. According to the ranking, the world's most democratic countries are: Scandinavian countries, Switzerland, Ghana, Sri Lanka, India and... China!
Every year I get the same argument back so let me preempt it: no it's not because the Chinese people would be "afraid" to express their opinion.
If that were the case you'd see the same dynamic in other presumed "authoritarian" countries. But Russia scores -21, Belarus -9, Kazakhstan -31. If "fear of the regime" explained China's +14, why aren't Russians and Belarusians equally "afraid"?
Professor Jason Hickel - an economic anthropologist - also wrote a fascinating article on exactly this topic titled "Support for government in China: is the data accurate?" (open.substack.com/pub/jasonhicke…) in which he systematically dismantles the "fear bias" argument by examining studies that used anonymized and implicit methodologies. The verdict: across every methodology tested, Chinese people mean what they say.
So, for better or worse, as far as people's perceptions are concerned, we now live in a world where China is one of the most democratic countries in the world and France one of the least.
How does the US fare? Not great, far below China (although better than France): its ranking is "neutral" meaning there's roughly an equal amount of U.S. citizens who think they're a democracy as those who don't.
For the self-proclaimed "leader of the free world," that's not exactly a ringing endorsement...
Which, this year, as a French man, is utterly depressing: France is now, according to the French people themselves, one of the least democratic countries in the world, alongside countries like Kazakhstan, Yemen or Zimbabwe. It's insane but sadly unsurprising given the fact that Macron made a complete mockery of the results of the previous elections, and altogether only has utter contempt for his people.
Also fascinating, like every single year, is the fact that China is - according to the Chinese people themselves - one of the most democratic countries in the world. According to the ranking, the world's most democratic countries are: Scandinavian countries, Switzerland, Ghana, Sri Lanka, India and... China!
Every year I get the same argument back so let me preempt it: no it's not because the Chinese people would be "afraid" to express their opinion.
If that were the case you'd see the same dynamic in other presumed "authoritarian" countries. But Russia scores -21, Belarus -9, Kazakhstan -31. If "fear of the regime" explained China's +14, why aren't Russians and Belarusians equally "afraid"?
Professor Jason Hickel - an economic anthropologist - also wrote a fascinating article on exactly this topic titled "Support for government in China: is the data accurate?" (open.substack.com/pub/jasonhicke…) in which he systematically dismantles the "fear bias" argument by examining studies that used anonymized and implicit methodologies. The verdict: across every methodology tested, Chinese people mean what they say.
So, for better or worse, as far as people's perceptions are concerned, we now live in a world where China is one of the most democratic countries in the world and France one of the least.
How does the US fare? Not great, far below China (although better than France): its ranking is "neutral" meaning there's roughly an equal amount of U.S. citizens who think they're a democracy as those who don't.
For the self-proclaimed "leader of the free world," that's not exactly a ringing endorsement...
Another finding of the report that I found fascinating this year: there's now a higher perception of freedom of speech in China than in the immense majority of Western countries, including in the United States.
Meaning that when you ask the Chinese people, a higher proportion of them feel they "can criticize the government without consequences" than in the US.
I'm personally not surprised about this at all. I posted many times about the different initiatives taken by the Chinese government to encourage feedback and criticism, including the 12345 hotline, a 24/7 phone number you can call anywhere in China if you have any complaint that's related to the government (and which I myself called a few times).
And anyone familiar with China will tell you (and this is one way the Chinese are actually spiritually quite similar to the French), Chinese people LOVE to complain, and are definitely not shy about it. Speak about government policies to anyone in China and get ready for an hours-long dizzying discussion about the myriads of ways in which China does NOT work.
The notion that Chinese people can't complain is something only someone who's never shared a dinner table with a Chinese family could possibly believe...
AND, most importantly, as this report's results indicate, the Chinese government - unlike many Western governments - actively listens to and acts upon people's feedback (a striking example I stumbled upon just today: x.com/i/status/20531…). Which - last I checked - is supposed to be what democracy is all about: having your policies guided by the will of the people.
What's the freaking point of being allowed to complain or expose whatever government failure if nothing changes? 🤷♂️ That's not democracy, it's just theater.
Meaning that when you ask the Chinese people, a higher proportion of them feel they "can criticize the government without consequences" than in the US.
I'm personally not surprised about this at all. I posted many times about the different initiatives taken by the Chinese government to encourage feedback and criticism, including the 12345 hotline, a 24/7 phone number you can call anywhere in China if you have any complaint that's related to the government (and which I myself called a few times).
And anyone familiar with China will tell you (and this is one way the Chinese are actually spiritually quite similar to the French), Chinese people LOVE to complain, and are definitely not shy about it. Speak about government policies to anyone in China and get ready for an hours-long dizzying discussion about the myriads of ways in which China does NOT work.
The notion that Chinese people can't complain is something only someone who's never shared a dinner table with a Chinese family could possibly believe...
AND, most importantly, as this report's results indicate, the Chinese government - unlike many Western governments - actively listens to and acts upon people's feedback (a striking example I stumbled upon just today: x.com/i/status/20531…). Which - last I checked - is supposed to be what democracy is all about: having your policies guided by the will of the people.
What's the freaking point of being allowed to complain or expose whatever government failure if nothing changes? 🤷♂️ That's not democracy, it's just theater.
This is a gullible article, an essay taken out of its original dimensions. My vision and explanation is completely different from this French author Sartre or even Judith Greenberg. (Check the subs)
A Situation of Fear: Revisiting Sartre in Trump’s America
daily.jstor.org/why-do-people-…
A Situation of Fear: Revisiting Sartre in Trump’s America
daily.jstor.org/why-do-people-…
"Belligerence of your insolence" you two authors who try to lull the awaken people.
Antisemitism can't disappear like a smoke after an extinguished fire.
Knowing your Gotra is like finding the roots of a giant family tree that goes back thousands of years. In Indian culture, it’s not just a name; it’s about your lineage and identity.
A Thread 🧵
Here is a simple guide on how to find yours:
A Thread 🧵
Here is a simple guide on how to find yours:
What exactly is a Gotra?
Think of Gotra as your original ancestor’s "clan name." Most Gotras are named after ancient Rishis (sages) like Kashyap, Bhardwaj, or Vashistha. It helps identify your lineage and ensures you know your family history.
Think of Gotra as your original ancestor’s "clan name." Most Gotras are named after ancient Rishis (sages) like Kashyap, Bhardwaj, or Vashistha. It helps identify your lineage and ensures you know your family history.
How to find your Gotra
If you don't know yours yet, don't worry. Here are the easiest ways to track it down:
If you don't know yours yet, don't worry. Here are the easiest ways to track it down:
Everyone's asking: what actually powers AI data centers?
The answer is more complicated — and more interesting — than "natural gas vs renewables."
A 🧵 on what's really happening, and where it's going.
The answer is more complicated — and more interesting — than "natural gas vs renewables."
A 🧵 on what's really happening, and where it's going.
Start with the obvious: data centers need firm power, not really 24/7 as they run at 50% capcity factors.
Solar/Wind are fuel, batteries are really providing the capacity.
So the assumption is gas & nuclear carry the load.
Big Tech energy portfolios tell a more nuanced story.
Solar/Wind are fuel, batteries are really providing the capacity.
So the assumption is gas & nuclear carry the load.
Big Tech energy portfolios tell a more nuanced story.
Amazon & Microsoft: 40+ GW wind/solar each
Google & Meta: ~15 GW wind/solar each
All four signed nuclear deals as well
The nuclear numbers are smaller
In short they are sticking to their commitments to clean energy and buying NG units for "capacity" for speed to power.
Google & Meta: ~15 GW wind/solar each
All four signed nuclear deals as well
The nuclear numbers are smaller
In short they are sticking to their commitments to clean energy and buying NG units for "capacity" for speed to power.
I did NOT BUY a new iPhone (€1,200).
I gave mine 4 more years of life in one afternoon. It runs faster than when I bought it.
Here are the 9 steps nobody tells you:
I gave mine 4 more years of life in one afternoon. It runs faster than when I bought it.
Here are the 9 steps nobody tells you:
1. Disable Background App Refresh for apps that don’t need it
Settings → General → Background App Refresh → disable everything except critical apps.
This setting alone can silently drain up to 20% of battery per day.
Settings → General → Background App Refresh → disable everything except critical apps.
This setting alone can silently drain up to 20% of battery per day.
2. Clear Safari cache (frees between 500MB and 3GB)
Settings → Safari → Clear History and Website Data.
On iPhones used for years: it can accumulate GBs. Do it every 3 months. The phone responds visibly faster.
Settings → Safari → Clear History and Website Data.
On iPhones used for years: it can accumulate GBs. Do it every 3 months. The phone responds visibly faster.
Regarding this:
"The DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile, with a range of approximately 4,000 to 5,000 kilometers, was specifically designed and publicly nicknamed by Chinese military analysts as the "Guam Killer.""
I disagree with those analysts.
1/
"The DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile, with a range of approximately 4,000 to 5,000 kilometers, was specifically designed and publicly nicknamed by Chinese military analysts as the "Guam Killer.""
I disagree with those analysts.
1/
The Chinese PD-2900 drone (2,500 km range, 12-hour endurance, 250 km/h speed, stealthy Su-57-like design) is far more a "Guam Killer" than the DF-26.
It is a matter of numbers.
2/
It is a matter of numbers.
2/
As laid out by warquants -dot- com, China is buying one million OWA drones to destroy all US/Taiwan/Taiwan allied military logistics from Guam to the China coast.
A quantity of one million "Shaheed plus" class OWA drones has quality all its own.
3/
A quantity of one million "Shaheed plus" class OWA drones has quality all its own.
3/
There has been an attempt to gaslight people into thinking the Star Wars prequels were loved actually and it was just some nerds who brought it down.
So here is a story. Ensemble Studios was full of nerds. For months before the film’s opening, we played the trailer on nonstop repeat on large screens in every hallway on the office.
We all watched that trailer at least 100 times. We were so thrilled.
1/3
So here is a story. Ensemble Studios was full of nerds. For months before the film’s opening, we played the trailer on nonstop repeat on large screens in every hallway on the office.
We all watched that trailer at least 100 times. We were so thrilled.
1/3
Finally the grand day came. A new Star Wars for the first time in 16 years!! We’d seen images of Darth Maul, of the robots, the Gungan War, Naboo fighter ships. SOOO COOL.
The weekend of the release we all trooped to the theater. Practically vibrating with excitement.
On Monday we returned to the office. And we never spoke a word about the film. I literally can’t recall a single conversation on it. The Phantom Menace just vanished as a topic.
2/3
The weekend of the release we all trooped to the theater. Practically vibrating with excitement.
On Monday we returned to the office. And we never spoke a word about the film. I literally can’t recall a single conversation on it. The Phantom Menace just vanished as a topic.
2/3
Compare to The Mummy released the same year. We discussed that for weeks over lunch.
But we, nerds, geeks, and fans, agreed quietly to pretend the Phantom Menace never existed.
That’s how bad we took it.
When Attack of the Clones was coming out, we did not show the trailer on our tv screens.
What was your experience?
3/3
But we, nerds, geeks, and fans, agreed quietly to pretend the Phantom Menace never existed.
That’s how bad we took it.
When Attack of the Clones was coming out, we did not show the trailer on our tv screens.
What was your experience?
3/3
The most male-skewed dating market in the US is SV (~1.5-3 eligible men per woman depending on definitions), & the most female-skewed is DC (~1.5-2 eligible women per man). One place makes all the productive disruptive tech (but simps for commies), & the other makes all the regs.
Note the nonlinearities. Eg as males per female rises, groups more naturally relate in male-brained ways, & those that lean further into this grow faster, & it’s way easier to form de facto male only groups (which is necessary for tech & disruption), but way more simping pressure
Guys in SF are thus way freer to build male-brained things in male-brained ways & network them into male-brained power, but way more vulnerable to cancellation over female-legible infractions—eg if women who don’t understand drones learn you misgender people you can get embargoed
In the redistricting discussions last week several GOP-designed districts were described as "pinwheels", i.e. 3-4 perfectly compact districts that come together and intersect at a point inside a city. I've played around with this a little and I'm actually not convinced pinwheels are an unnatural feature, even if the maps were being designed by a blind algorithm.
Tl;dr - if you take a metropolitan statistical area that has enough people for N districts, and you subtract ~750k people (one district) from each of the densest areas in the MSA, what's left will look like swiss cheese, so the remaining districts won't be as compact.
Conversely, if you divide the MSA into N roughly compact shapes with the densest areas running between or at the intersection of the pseudo-districts, you can be sure of getting N compact districts by transferring people between districts with minimal effect on their shape.
